节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-04-01
难易度:Medium
关键字:bloom, frontier, awareness, innocense, arbor, practical joke
Today we've been learning about the month of April and some of the things that
occur during the month of April.
We've learned about flowers blooming and the world coming back to life because
April is a month that occurs during spring.
We've also learned a little bit about the holiday Arbor Day, which celebrates
the importance of planting trees and in the importance of taking care of our
Earth.
Well, we still have some things to learn about this month April, so let's get to
it in our second reading for today.
April.
P - Practical jokes are common on April 1 - April Fools' Day.
People play tricks on each other, and some companies even join in.
The BBC once reported a story about farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, and
Burger King advertise a left-handed hamburger.
R - Rain is common in many places during April, a fact that gave rise to the old
saying: "April showers bring May flowers.".
I - International Guitar Month falls in April along with National Humor Month
and National Stress Awareness Month.
L - Loyal love and innocence are represented by the daisy, April's flower.
And April's gemstone, the diamond, represents everlasting love.
Well, let's get started with the letter P.
It stands for "practical jokes." Yes.
Practical jokes are common on April 1 - April Fools' Day.
Many of you know and celebrate April Fools' Day by playing jokes on people.
They are called practical jokes.
Another word is maybe a "prank," P-R-A-N-K.
But yes, a practical joke.
And at the beginning of our lesson today, Carolyn tried to play a little
practical joke on me by telling me there was something on my head.
I don't know what it was.
But obviously there was nothing on my head.
It was just a practical joke.
Well, it's... it's gone now.
It's... OK.
Right.
Well, and I did say "April Fools!" So you knew it was just a joke.
OK. It's very important.
Sometimes if you want to play a practical joke on somebody, you want to let them
know you are joking.
So you can say "April Fools'!" Then they know it was just a joke.
All right.
Well, we continue learning about April Fools' Day.
People play tricks on each other.
People play tricks or jokes, and some companies even join in.
Well, that's kind of fun.
So it's not just individual people who are playing tricks, even some companies
join in.
That's right.
And this is only on April 1, so just one day of the year.
But we see that the BBC once reported a story about farmers harvesting spaghetti
from trees, and Burger King advertised a left-handed hamburger.
Those sound very interesting, Carolyn.
Actually, I have tried the spaghetti that was harvested from trees.
And the spaghetti is quite delicious.
Um, I don't think spaghetti grows on trees, Gabe.
I think someone may have been playing a practical joke on you.
Maybe you're right.
April Fools' Day, ha-ha, on me.
Well, anyway, let's continue with the letter R.
It stands for "rain." Of course, this is a month in spring.
And so you might see a lot of rain.
Rain is common in many places during April, a fact that gave rise to the old
saying: April showers bring May flowers.
So that's where that saying came from.
Well, we're going to learn more about this sentence or this phrase "to give rise
to something" in the Grammar Gym.
Hello, friends.
Welcome to the Grammar Gym.
My name is Liz.
Now in today's article, we see this sentence:
Rain is common in many places during April, a fact that gave rise to the old
saying: April showers bring May flowers.
And that's our Grammar Tip sentence.
Our focus today is on the idiom "to give rise to." It means to be the cause of
something.
So looking at today's sentence, the writer is saying that the fact it's common
to have rain in many places during April is the reason why we have the saying:
April showers bring May flowers.
OK. Let's have a look at some example sentences.
The unfortunate car accident gave rise to the current set of traffic safety
rules.
Or: William's experience studying overseas gave rise to his passion for
traveling.
So now it's your turn.
Think of something that is the cause of something else, and practice using this
idiom.
And that's it for today.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym, saying goodbye.
And we see the next letter in the word "April" is the letter I.
And here we have International Guitar Month falls in April along with National
Humor Month and National Stress Awareness Month.
So it sounds like there's a lot of things going on in April.
And we have a word there that we want to talk about, the word "awareness," to be
aware of something.
Can you tell me a little bit about this word, Gabe?
Yeah. Well, maybe if you're not aware of something, that means you don't know
that it's happening or you don't even know about it at all.
You're not aware.
And so when you have an awareness of something, that means you know what is
going on.
And many things, many organizations like to have awareness about things or
encourage awareness about things.
So National Stress Awareness Month is maybe bringing to attention the fact that
lots of people are very stressed.
And that's not a good thing.
National Stress Awareness Month and the things we can do about that.
How else might you use that word "awareness," Carolyn?
Well, it is important to be aware of what is going on around you and to have
some mental awareness.
You should be aware of the things around you.
But there are many other things that you can be aware of.
Here we have stress, but you could also be aware of maybe...
International Guitar Month.
International Guitar Month, that's right.
Yeah, especially if you're a musician, you might celebrate International Guitar
Month.
Well, I see some words here, international and national.
Just a reminder that "international" talks about things that are worldwide.
And "national" are things... or talks about things within your country or within
a certain country.
Um, let's continue with the last letter here.
It is the letter L.
Loyal love and innocence are represented by the daisy, April's flower.
Let's take a look at that word.
I think it's a good word to know.
It's the word "innocence." And if you have innocense, what does that mean,
Carolyn?
Well, it means that you are innocent.
It means that you are not guilty of something.
You are pure and kind of like a child.
I think the innocense of a child is something that is very beautiful.
I think so, too.
I was going to talk about that as well.
If you're not guilty about something, you didn't do anything wrong, then you are
innocent.
And of course, many people think of children as having innocence.
Well, we talking... we're talking about loyal love and innocence, and they are
represented by the daisy, April's flower.
What else do we know about this month here, Carolyn?
Well, we also know the gemstone.
And April's gemstone, the diamond, represents everlasting love.
And a lot of people get diamond rings when they get married.
It's true.
A lot of people wear diamond rings when they are engaged or maybe married as
well.
Diamonds are wonderful and beautiful stones.
And they represent everlasting love, loyal love, L.
Well, we've... we've learned a lot about April today.
And we have a lot more to learn with Michelle in the Language Lab.
OK.
(Chinese).
And let's see what our teachers are up to.
Today we've spent a lot of time learning about the month of April and some of
the different things that go on during this month, one of them being practical
jokes.
April Fools' Day is a pretty fun day to celebrate so long as your jokes don't
get too mean.
But other than the joke that I played on you today, Gabe, have you had any
experience with April Fools' Day?
Well, yeah, practical jokes.
I... I tried to tie a fake cockroach to a string.
And then I waited for my sister to come by.
And I let it fly down the stairway.
I wanted to scare her.
But it didn't really scare her.
Wait! What's this in my pocket?
Eww, it's a cockroach!
Carolyn, April Fools' Day.
April Fools. Oh, well.
OK, not a real cockroach, just a joke.
And we are very glad that you are here with us today on Studio Classroom.
And we hope that you will join us next time right here.
Goodbye. See you next time.
Yeah, it's a cute little cockroach.